Ham-Tastic Ideas (With a Hint of Maple)

Ham is a delicious staple in many parts of the world, and has a long and vibrant history. The earliest known instance of curing pork legs can be traced all the way back to China in 4900 B.C. Romans then spread the usage of ham across ancient Europe, likely having learned their curing techniques from Chinese traders. Fast forward to the 17th century, and most colonial farmers in North America were raising pigs. Salted pork and bacon quickly became popular in the colonies for its long shelf life and versatility.

Ham is ubiquitous in many American homes today, but not all ham is created equal. Here at Walden, all of our pigs are derived from heritage breeding stocks, rather than the commodity Yorkshire breed used in industrial farming. Tail docking and hormones are strictly prohibited in our animals, and all of our ham is made at our local processor, Vermont Packing House.

Many of us at Walden are passionate home cooks and enjoy testing new recipes. We’re thrilled to share a couple of our recent favorite adaptations featuring our ham (made with simple, honest ingredients like sea salt and Vermont maple syrup) as the star. We also included a wonderful maple latte recipe for good measure. These easy meals are fast and delicious. If you give them a try, we’d love to see your photos (tag us @waldenlocalmeat)!

HAM AND CHEESE SLIDERS

A quick dinner or party snack, sliders are always a crowd pleaser. This is a great use for leftover ingredients and can easily be scaled to larger amounts based on your needs.

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HAM FRIED RICE

If you’ve never had our ham in fried rice before, believe us when we say … it’s incredibly delicious. The salty pork is an excellent flavor booster to this dish.

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ICED MAPLE LATTE

For just a hint of maple syrup sweetness, this Iced Maple Latte recipe fits the bill. Using Walden Maple syrup, it’s three simple ingredients and easy to make at home!

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